How life has changed in Harlow

Harlow's population increased by about 3,200 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 82,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Harlow increased by 4.0%, from just under 78,800 to 81,900.

The addition of almost 3,200 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Harlow was home to, on average, 19 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Harlow

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Harlow increased by two years, from 35 to 37 years.

This area had a lower average age than Eastof England and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 1,700 people between the ages of 50 and 59 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 12.0% of people in Harlow are aged between 50 and 59 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Harlow by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Harlow residents that were self-employed increased from 6.5% to 8.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57.8%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 59.6% in 2001. The percentage of Harlow residents that were unemployed increased from 3.4% to 5.2%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 10.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Harlow increased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Harlow, Eastof England and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Harlow

The percentage of Harlow residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.8% to 3.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.1%, while the percentage of Harlow residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91.1% to 90.2%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Harlow

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Harlow was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.1 points.

In 2011, 36.3% of respondents in Harlow gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 24.3% of those who answered in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.2% to 30.0%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Harlow, 59.3% said they were Christian, compared with 72.9% in 2001. About 2.3% said they were Muslim, compared with 1.4% a decade prior.

In Harlow, 6.6% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across Eastof England, 7.2% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Harlow increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East and Harlow by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Harlow that rented privately increased from 4.8% to 10.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31.2%) households lived in social housing, compared with 34.4% in 2001. The percentage of Harlow households that owned their home decreased from 59.1% to 56.1%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 14.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Harlow increased by 6.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Harlow, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of adults in Harlow that were married decreased from 50.3% to 45.0% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in three (34.0%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 29.8% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Harlow that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 12.3% to 13.7%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 54.2% in 2001 to 49.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 50.6% to 46.6%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Harlow residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.1% to 5.4% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81.0%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68.6% in 2001. The percentage of Harlow residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23.3% to 13.7%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Harlow decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Harlow, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Harlow

In 2011, 3.8% of Harlow residents said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from 1.0% in 2001. The 2.8 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.9% to 2.1%, while across England the percentage went from 2.4% to 3.6%.

Around 89.1% of people in Harlow said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 94.9% in 2001. About 4.6% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 2.5% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 1.2% to 2.1%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups in Harlow increased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Harlow by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Harlow, which comprised a single parent, increased from 11.1% to 13.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in three (31.9%) households had a married couple, compared with 35.5% in 2001. The percentage of households in Harlow, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.8% to 10.8%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Harlow working less than 16 hours increased from 1.6% to 2.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (8.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 12.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.9% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Harlow increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Harlow, Eastof England and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Harlow with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.8% to 10.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in three (31.7%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 31.2% in 2001. The percentage of households in Harlow without children decreased from 59.0% to 57.9%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Harlow residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.4% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.8%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Harlow remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Harlow by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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